William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, can have many mixed messages as to what the play really means. Furthermore, a variety of morals can be taken from this piece of literature. Also, there are two main themes and a few smaller ones; the play has universal themes.
A moral of the play could easily be said as: Disaster often results from hurried lives. Play Synopsis & Analysis – Romeo and Juliet, an article on Onlineshakespeare.com says, “The moral of Romeo and Juliet is not to rush into things like love, hate and important decisions.” The play clearly proves that rushing into these things can result in disaster. An example of this from the play can be taken from the prologue which states, “A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life.” Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other resulted in death, signifying disaster. An additional message that could be derived from the play might be not to rush the events in one's life. A quote that supports this is from another internet article, Romeo and Juliet- The Use of Time, which says, “Shakespeare uses time to show that all things are meant to happen at their own time and place. In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the characters are constantly trying to rush time in their urgency. This movement of time results in tragic ends, in which we learn that time and fate go hand in hand”
A true moral of the story is difficult to declare. A good number of people would believe Romeo and Juliet portrays the difficulties and struggles that occur when in love. The play unquestionably shows how being in love, as passionate as it is, can be rather chaotic and filled with troubles. Sparknotes.com has an article on themes of the play that reads, “Romeo and Juliet does not make a specific moral statement about the relationships between love and society, religion, and family; rather, it portrays the chaos and passion of being in love.” Moreover, Shakespeare incorporated his personal beliefs into the play about love, as well. An online article from the Modern Film Institute states “The play champions the sixteenth-century belief that true love always strikes at first sight. Shakespeare's moderate values come into play, as always, with his insistence that the lovers not consummate until after they are married in the eyes of the church and the law.” (Quote from fathom.com) Shakespeare’s characters, Romeo and Juliet, went against this belief because of their hateful families, however.
Since Romeo and Juliet has universal themes, it can be complicated to determine what the themes of the play are. The two most common themes established are: True love can conquer all. (And) The course of young love never runs smoothly. A quote from the play that proves the first theme is, “My only love sprung from my only hate.” Juliet says this meaning the person she loves is her enemy, demonstrating how true love conquered even enemies. An example from the play to support the second theme is, “Deny thy father and refuse they name! Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet.” Juliet is saying this and means that if she has to leave the family to be with Romeo, she will. This exhibits how their love doesn’t “run smoothly”.
A minor theme of the play is: Foolish quarrels should be ended, for they are never productive and often lead to tragedy. Because of a quarrel between two families, many fights and deaths occurred. The families should have ended their dispute before the tragedy it caused happened. A quote from the prologue reads, “The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love, / And the continuance of their parents’ rage, / Which, but their children end, naught could remove.” Basically, the couple had to kill themselves in attempt to escape the hate between their families.
Overall, Romeo and Juliet is about love; however, there is much more to it than that. The play portrays passion, turmoil, death, and timing, also. It has to be deeply looked into in order to understand what everything really means.
Critical Review of Romeo and Juliet
William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, can have many mixed messages as to what the play really means. Furthermore, a variety of morals can be taken from this piece of literature. Also, there are two main themes and a few smaller ones; the play has universal themes.
A moral of the play could easily be said as: Disaster often results from hurried lives. Play Synopsis & Analysis – Romeo and Juliet, an article on Onlineshakespeare.com says, “The moral of Romeo and Juliet is not to rush into things like love, hate and important decisions.” The play clearly proves that rushing into these things can result in disaster. An example of this from the play can be taken from the prologue which states, “A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life.” Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other resulted in death, signifying disaster. An additional message that could be derived from the play might be not to rush the events in one's life. A quote that supports this is from another internet article, Romeo and Juliet- The Use of Time, which says, “Shakespeare uses time to show that all things are meant to happen at their own time and place. In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the characters are constantly trying to rush time in their urgency. This movement of time results in tragic ends, in which we learn that time and fate go hand in hand”
A true moral of the story is difficult to declare. A good number of people would believe Romeo and Juliet portrays the difficulties and struggles that occur when in love. The play unquestionably shows how being in love, as passionate as it is, can be rather chaotic and filled with troubles. Sparknotes.com has an article on themes of the play that reads, “Romeo and Juliet does not make a specific moral statement about the relationships between love and society, religion, and family; rather, it portrays the chaos and passion of being in love.” Moreover, Shakespeare incorporated his personal beliefs into the play about love, as well. An online article from the Modern Film Institute states “The play champions the sixteenth-century belief that true love always strikes at first sight. Shakespeare's moderate values come into play, as always, with his insistence that the lovers not consummate until after they are married in the eyes of the church and the law.” (Quote from fathom.com) Shakespeare’s characters, Romeo and Juliet, went against this belief because of their hateful families, however.
Since Romeo and Juliet has universal themes, it can be complicated to determine what the themes of the play are. The two most common themes established are: True love can conquer all. (And) The course of young love never runs smoothly. A quote from the play that proves the first theme is, “My only love sprung from my only hate.” Juliet says this meaning the person she loves is her enemy, demonstrating how true love conquered even enemies. An example from the play to support the second theme is, “Deny thy father and refuse they name! Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet.” Juliet is saying this and means that if she has to leave the family to be with Romeo, she will. This exhibits how their love doesn’t “run smoothly”.
A minor theme of the play is: Foolish quarrels should be ended, for they are never productive and often lead to tragedy. Because of a quarrel between two families, many fights and deaths occurred. The families should have ended their dispute before the tragedy it caused happened. A quote from the prologue reads, “The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love, / And the continuance of their parents’ rage, / Which, but their children end, naught could remove.” Basically, the couple had to kill themselves in attempt to escape the hate between their families.
Overall, Romeo and Juliet is about love; however, there is much more to it than that. The play portrays passion, turmoil, death, and timing, also. It has to be deeply looked into in order to understand what everything really means.